McAuliffe: First Executive Order Will Protect Gays

Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe said that the first executive order he will sign when he takes office on January 14 will be to protect state employees who are gays, lesbians and transgender people from job discrimination, The Washington Post reported.

The second order he plans to sign will limit to $100 the value of gifts he and his family may receive.

Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell received gifts and loans worth $160,000 from businessman Jonnie Williams, who also gave McAuliffe's GOP opponent, state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, $18,000 in gifts.

McAuliffe, who ran a no holds barred campaign against Cuccinelli and Libertarian Robert Sarvis, signaled he wants to set a fresh bipartisan tone.

"To those who did not support me, to those who voted for either of the two worthy opponents, let me just say that I will get up every single day working for you," said McAuliffe, who had made a campaign pledge to enact the gay anti-discrimination measure.

The governor-elect said he wants to build "an administration that is truly bipartisan," according to Newsplex.

McAuliffe also announced a transition team that included moderate Republican John Chichester, a former state senator, and novelist John Grisham, a former Mississippi state legislator who now lives in Charlottesville.

McAuliffe said voters want lawmakers to approach problems by "working together in a bipartisan, mainstream, pragmatic way," according to Newsplex.

His agenda, he said, includes Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

"Twenty-nine governors have already agreed to accept the Medicaid expansion," McAuliffe said. "Why would we possibly want our money to go to those other states to provide health care for their citizens, paid for by Virginia residents?"

Del. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) will head the transition committee which will have two co-chairs: Chichester and McAuliffe's campaign treasurer Nancy Rodrigues.

Never having held office, McAuliffe wants to surround himself with an experienced governing team, The Post reported. Paul Reagan, a veteran political operative will serve as transition director.

Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe said that the first executive order he will sign when he takes office on January 14 will be to protect state employees who are gays, lesbians and transgender people from job discrimination, The Washington Post reported.
The second order...